AROYA Cruises is concluding its inaugural season in the Mediterranean this week, but is already contemplating further expansion, with the Caribbean, Northern Europe and Asia under consideration.
AROYA Cruises' first ship, Aroya, sailed the Red Sea during the first half of 2025 and debuted in Istanbul in June, operating 7-night itineraries from Turkey with stops in Greece and Egypt.
Sailing every weekend from the Galataport cruise terminal, the Aroya visited destinations such as Mykonos, Souda Bay, Rhodes, Piraeus, Kaş, Marmaris, Alexandria, and Bodrum. Throughout the summer, the ship carried approximately 20,000 passengers from both the Middle East and the international market.
On September 12, 2025, an 8-night repositioning itinerary commenced, with stops in Kuşadası, Bodrum, the Port of Suez, and Sharm El Sheikh, before arriving in Jeddah. Subsequently, it will launch its Middle East season in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, marking its return to domestic waters before a potential international expansion.
Cruise Saudi has confirmed that AROYA will return to Istanbul in June 2026 for a second season in the Mediterranean, with another extended deployment planned for 2027. At the same time, new international itineraries are being evaluated as part of its next phase of growth.
“AROYA is more than a ship. It is a floating resort designed to showcase Saudi luxury and world-class hospitality,” the company stated, noting that after establishing itself in the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, the brand is now setting its sights on Northern Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.
Cruise Saudi has indicated that expanding the reach of AROYA will not only attract new source markets, but will also strengthen the position of the Saudi cruise sector within the broader tourism economy.
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